The Bioscope (Oct-Dec 1931)

November 11, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 11 Exhibitors Booking British Reaction to Wave of National Sentiment Improved Quality of Home Product In view of the united National response to the call for public support for British industries, it is anticipated that during the next Quota period British exhibitors will show far in excess of the footage of British film prescribed by the law. Already hundreds of exhibitors are showing three or four times their Quota footage, and it is highly probable that, realising the significance of the wave of national sentiment which has overwhelmed the whole British population, many exhibitors will show over 50 per cent, of British films during the coming year. Did Snowden Miscalculate ? Increased E.T. May Raise Six Millions The new Entertainments Tax came into force on Monday and surprised exhibitors with some phenomenal reactions. Although there has, as yet, been scarcely time to grasp the full import of these, a superficial examination of comparative returns seems to suggest that, whereas Mr. Snowden expected to realise an additional £2,000,000 by raising the Entertainments Tax, he may, in fact, find that he has increased the revenue from this source by no less than £6,000,000 per year. Although it had been anticipated that the increased tax would result in a slight decrease in patronage and a greater demand for the cheaper seats, Monday’s and Tuesday’s results in many cases suggested the reverse. That the amount of tax paid by some exhibitors, particularly those catering for the poorer public, will be increased by as much as 300 to 400 per cent. is suggested by the experience of Rudolph Solomon, of the Star Cinema, Bermondsey, who discloses that against his total Entertainments Tax for the whole of last week, amounting to approximately £8, his first night’s takings under the new Entertainments Tax schedule realised just over £7. Taken on this average of just over £30 per week he will thus be collecting about 400 per cent, additional tax. Other London exhibitors report similar experiences. Will Evans Controls Moss Empires’ Cinemas Will Evans, formerly a director of Gaumont British, has been appointed joint managing director of Moss Empires, Ltd., and will concentrate upon the development of the cinema activities which, as already reported in The Bioscope, are to form part of Moss Empires’ future policy. David Simpson, secretary of Moss Empires, Ltd., in an official statement, says : “ I am directed by the board of Moss Empires, Ltd., to inform you that in view of the present interests of Moss Empires in cinemas, and the possible future extension of those interests, Mr. Will Evans, who has for some years been a director of the company, was, at the suggestion of Mr. R. H. Gillespie, invited to become joint managing director with Mr. Gillespie, in order that he might give the benefit of his valuable experience in connection with the cinema activities of Moss Empires, Ltd.” Mr. R. H. Gillespie will continue to direct the theatrical and variety part of Moss Empires’ business. Farewell To Cheepen At a specially arranged concert and staff dance at the Masonic Hall, Leyton, on Sunday evening the staff of the Savoy, Leyton, presented Manager Maurice Cheepen with several handsome gifts, as an appreciation of the good fellowship existing at that theatre. As already announced in The Bioscope, Manager Cheepen is leaving that theatre to take up the general managership of the Prince of Wales, Lewisham. During the past three months the standard of quality of British films has shown tremendous improvement, and in the following list will be found but a few of the British films which will shortly make history and money for astute exhibitors : — Gainsborough Pictures ’’ The Ghost Train ” and “ Hindle Wakes ” (W. & F.) ; “ Michael and Mary,” “ Sunshine Susie,” '* Hound of the Baskervilles ” and " The Man They Could Not Arrest ” (Ideal). British and Dominions “ Carnival,” “ The Chance of a Night Time,” “ Up for the Cup,” " Almost a Divorce” and “The Speckled Band” (W. & F.). Gaumont-British “ The Happy Ending,” “ No Lady ” and "Down River” (Gaumont). Sydney Hayden, resident London director of Kinemas, Ltd., the growing South African circuit, has just returned to England after spending nine months in South Africa. In spite of the fact that the cinema trade in South Africa is severely affected by abnormal depression among the farmers, Mr. Hayden has returned quite optimistic. He is, more than ever to-day, a champion of British films, but draws attention to one or two major points upon which he says British film producers must be prepared to co-operate with such companies as are ready to give British films preference in the Union. He referred particularly to the need for more forceful publicity, which he thinks should emanate from a central publicity bureau in London. This bureau would centre upon preparing the ground and breaking down strong existing prejudices, not only in South Africa, but in our other markets overseas, which have been created by years of intensive foreign film propaganda. Another aspect which needs careful consideration is that of the relative interest of British and American films to the South African distributor and exhibitor. America is most anxious to hold this market, and already one company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, has laid plans to build cinemas in South Africa. Special inducements are likely to be offered Twickenham Film Studios “Splinters in the Navy” and "Alibi” (W. & F.) ; " The Sleeping Cardinal ” (Warners) ; “ Black Coffee ” (W. & F.) ; " The Rosary” (W.P.). Butchers Film Service " Deadlock ” and “ The Great Gay Road ” (Butcher’s). Eric Hakim Productions “ The Outsider ” (M.-G.-M.). B.I.P. • " Many Waters ” and " Out of the Blue ” IPathe) ; " Hobson's Choice,” “ The Flying Fool,” " The Woman Between ” and "Glamour” (Wardour). British Instructional " Creeping Shadows ” and “ Tell England ” (Wardour) . to distributors willing to distribute foreign in preference to British films. Kinemas, Ltd., now control nearly 130 halls, including several modern supers which have just been opened. During the past four years Kinemas, Ltd., have actually constructed 15 new theatres with large seating capacity, and are at this moment engaged in building another super in Cape Town which, for South Africa, will be regarded as a skyscraper. Owing to the high valuation of the site, six floors of offices have been constructed above the theatre. Mr. Hayden is of the opinion that South Africa is now reaching a point of cinema saturation, for to cater for a white population of just under two million there are 500 cinemas. War Heroes at the Tatler A fine gesture of good fellowship was made last night (Tuesday), Armistice Eve, by Gaumont-British, who placed the Tatler Theatre, Charing Cross Road, at the disposal of the St. Martin’s Association for Limbless ex-Service Men. Over 800 of the cheeriest of war cripples enjoyed a specially selected programme of films, music and community singing, arranged by Captain R. Knights, manager of the theatre. Intense Foreign Activity In Empire Film Markets